Bolthole Index

Kings County, California

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Hanford, California

Hanford, California’s Building Division issues building permits, reviews plans and inspects construction inside city limits.1 Hanford applies its own zoning; RVs and trailers cannot be used as residences in the city’s low-density residential zones.23 Kings County administers onsite wastewater through Environmental Health, but we could not confirm the sewer-versus-septic requirements for a particular Hanford parcel.45

At a glance

Building permits
City Building Division issues building permits inside Hanford1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside Hanford2
RV living
RV and trailer residences prohibited in low-density residential zones3
Accessory dwelling
ADUs allowed on qualifying residential lots with a proposed or existing primary dwelling6
Septic
Kings County Environmental Health administers onsite wastewater; confirm parcel eligibility4
Water wells
Local authorization required before well construction, modification or destruction7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Hanford Building Division

Building plan review, building permits and construction inspections inside Hanford city limits

Planning & zoning

City of Hanford Planning Division

City zoning, project review and development entitlements

Septic permits

Kings County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services

Environmental health contact for onsite wastewater and domestic-well questions

(559) 584-1411

460 kings county drive, hanford, ca 93230

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Hanford means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Hanford, CA?

For construction inside Hanford city limits, start with the City of Hanford Building Division: the division reviews plans, issues building permits and performs construction inspections.1 Hanford has adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code by reference.8 Ask the Building Division which building permit and plan submittals your project needs before starting work.1

For land outside city limits, use the Kings County guide: the county building-permit requirement concerns unincorporated Kings County.9

Does Hanford have zoning, and how does it affect a lot?

Hanford has city zoning, including Low Density Residential districts R-L-5, R-L-8 and R-L-12.210 Ask Hanford Planning to identify the parcel’s district and necessary development entitlements before applying for a building permit.11

In R-L-12, maximum lot coverage is 50%; in R-L-5 and R-L-8, coverage depends on the combined setback, accessory-structure and off-street-parking requirements.12 In these low-density districts, driveway and paved-area width together cannot exceed 40% of the lot’s street frontage on the side they face.13 Plan the house, parking and accessory buildings together rather than treating lot coverage as a standalone allowance.12

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Hanford?

In Hanford’s R-L-5, R-L-8 and R-L-12 low-density residential zones, no RV or trailer may be used as a residence.3 Allowed RV storage or parking does not authorize living in the vehicle: the same rule limits storage to an enclosed side or rear yard, garage or carport, with a conditional driveway alternative where existing legal permanent structures block yard access.3

Hanford allows ADUs on qualifying single-family or multifamily residential lots with an existing or proposed primary dwelling, subject to applicable objective district requirements and Fire and Building Code requirements.6 We could not confirm a separate tiny-home occupancy pathway; ask Hanford Planning how the proposed structure would be classified before buying it.11

How do septic permits and wells work inside Hanford?

Kings County administers onsite wastewater through its environmental health program under an approved Local Agency Management Program, with state policy and regional water-board oversight.4 New and replacement septic systems are addressed under that local program; properly functioning existing systems are treated differently.14 Ask Kings County Environmental Health Services about a proposed septic system, and ask Hanford Planning to resolve the city-side approvals for the parcel.511

We could not confirm Hanford’s precise new-home sewer connection requirement or whether a proposed septic system is acceptable at a particular address.11 California requires authorization from the applicable local environmental health agency or water district before water-well construction, modification or destruction; Kings County Environmental Health regulates domestic wells.715

Building a home in Hanford: what are the steps?

Start with Hanford Planning to identify the zoning district and obtain necessary entitlements before applying for a building permit.11 Submit city development entitlements through the Citizen Self Service Portal.11 Then work with Hanford’s Building Division on plan review, building permits and field inspections.1

For a design involving an ADU, establish the qualifying residential zoning and existing or proposed primary dwelling before relying on the ADU allowance.6 For onsite wastewater or a domestic well, contact Kings County Environmental Health separately from the city building counter.415 If the purchase involves dividing a lot, Hanford’s subdivision provisions include tentative-map filing and approval processes, so ask Planning about the land division before designing around an assumed new parcel.1611

Watch-outs

  • Hanford’s low-density residential RV parking allowances do not permit using an RV or trailer as a residence.3
  • We could not confirm a general minimum dwelling size or temporary camping allowance in Hanford; ask City Planning before relying on either.11
  • We could not confirm Hanford’s parcel-specific floodplain development requirements; ask the city Building Division before finalizing the project.1

Sources

  1. City of Hanford Building Division (hanfordca.gov)
  2. Municipal Code, City of Hanford (Hanford), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 17.10: Low Density Residential Zones (Hanford), quoted and re-checked
  4. Local Agency Management Programs (LAMPS) for On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), quoted and re-checked
  5. Kings County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services (kcdph.com)
  6. Chapter 17.60: Specific Land Use Standards (Hanford), quoted and re-checked
  7. Well Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 15.02: California Building Standards Code (Hanford), quoted and re-checked
  9. Kings County - Building Ordinance (2026 county census)
  10. Municipal Code, City of Hanford (Hanford), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Hanford Planning Division (hanfordca.gov)
  12. Chapter 17.10: Low Density Residential Zones (Hanford), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 17.10: Low Density Residential Zones (Hanford), quoted and re-checked
  14. Onsite Waste Water Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  15. EHS Drinking water, quoted and re-checked
  16. Title 16: Subdivisions (Hanford), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Hanford

Hanford’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Hanford city limits.

    • The City adopts the listed 2025 California Building Standards Code parts by reference.
    • The City code states that copies are kept with the City Clerk and Building Division for public inspection.
    • Ordinance 25-12 is dated 12/16/2025.
    “The City of Hanford adopts by reference the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Title 24, Parts 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hanford city limits.

    • The City code contains Title 17, Zoning, and zone-specific chapters.
    “Title 17 Zoning (§ 17.02.010 – § 17.98.030)”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Hanford city limits.

    • The opened code specifically identifies Low Density Residential districts R-L-5, R-L-8, and R-L-12.
    “This chapter shall apply to all land within the Low Density Residential (R-L-5, R-L-8, and R-L-12) zones.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles and trailers in the Low Density Residential R-L-5, R-L-8, and R-L-12 zones inside Hanford city limits.

    • Recreational vehicles may be stored or parked only within an enclosed side or rear yard or within a garage or carport.
    • If a side or rear yard is inaccessible because of existing legal permanent structures, parking in or adjacent to a driveway may be allowed if it does not create a nuisance or safety problem as determined by the Community Development Director.
    • Vehicles visible from the street must be clean and maintained.
    • A recreational vehicle or trailer may not be used as a residence.
    “No recreational vehicle or trailer shall be used as a residence.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units inside Hanford city limits.

    • ADUs are permitted on lots zoned for single-family or multifamily residential use and must include a proposed or existing primary dwelling.
    • The ADU section requires conformity with applicable zone-district objective requirements and Fire and Building Code requirements, subject to controlling state law.
    “ADUs are permitted on lots that are zoned to allow single-family or multifamily dwelling residential use and include a proposed or existing primary dwelling.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision activity inside Hanford city limits.

    • The City code provides tentative-map filing, fees, information requirements, Commission approval, and final-map provisions.
    “Chapter 16.08 TENTATIVE MAPS [...] § 16.08.010 Filing. [...] § 16.08.020 Fees. [...] § 16.08.080 Commission approval.”

Rules another office applies inside Hanford

Hanford does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-L-5, R-L-8, and R-L-12 Low Density Residential zones inside Hanford city limits.

    • For R-L-5 and R-L-8, coverage is determined by combined setback, accessory-structure, and parking requirements.

    maximum lot coverage R-L-12: 50 percent

    “The maximum coverage of a lot in the R-L-12 zone shall be 50%. The maximum coverage of a lot in the R-L-5 and R-L-8 zones shall be determined by the combined building setback requirements, accessory structure limitations, and off-street parking requirements.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways in the R-L-5, R-L-8, and R-L-12 Low Density Residential zones inside Hanford city limits.

    • For L- or U-shaped driveways or other nonperpendicular configurations, paved area may not exceed 50% of the front building setback area.
    • On key lots, the driveway must be located on the side not adjacent to the rear lot line of the adjacent reverse-corner lot.

    maximum cumulative driveway and paved-area width: <= 40 percent of lot street frontage

    “The width of a driveway and any paved area shall not cumulatively exceed 40% of the width of the lot's street frontage on which the driveway and any paved area faces.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Hanford or Kings County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Hanford city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Hanford city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Hanford city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Hanford city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Hanford residential zones.
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Hanford publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kings County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Kings County: county rules, score and offices